Yum! Brands, parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silver's, A&W and Pizza Hut,  deserves some recognition for the completion of its first LEED Gold Certified building in Northampton, Massachusetts. Although the building, which was designed to conserve water and energy and reduce carbon emissions and waste, is not in Georgia, many of Yum! Brand's restaurants are and the company's positive stance on sustainable issues is sure to trickle down to their operations here as well. Way to go!

Yum! Brands has adopted a fairly progressive position in regards to the treatment of the animals that end up as nuggets and burgers in their restaurants too, which, as an animal lover, I really appreciate. You can read more about their policies on animal welfare and their environmental initiatives by following these links. 

Of course, there are other viewpoints about what is really happening, as the following video attests. It's hard to know for sure how well the stated policies are being followed. Yum! I appeal to the best in you to adhere to the gold standard of practices in this important area as well.



McDonald's Europe is also beginning to look at ways they can address animal welfare and environmental issues. This Reuters article quotes Chief Supply Chain Officer, Karl Fritz, as saying that the company is trying to respond to customers' desire for more sustainable practices without raising prices, and that increases in volume might have a better result than charging a higher price.

Hmm... I guess I would say that depends on what you're trying to accomplish and who you think it is that will benefit. Yes, money's great. I like making it, like spending it, like saving it and giving it away. Yet how many times have your heard that it won't make you happy? Science backs up that old adage, by the way.

It's great that restaurants are starting to consider their responsibilities outside of stuffing their shareholders' pockets. I like to see my stock go up too, but I don't mind paying more (or making less) for food that doesn't contribute to the misery in the world, or make us more dependent on oil, or give us E. coli, or muck up the world of the future. The near future, at that.

Please...take my money!